Mason stains can be used in a wide variety of ways. They can be used to color clay bodies, slips, or glazes. They can be mixed with water or with frits and brushed onto pottery forms, either over or under a glaze. They are fritted to insure color consistency from batch to batch. The fired color should be almost identical to the stain in its raw state. Mason stains can be used at all firing temperatures (except tin-antimony-lead yellows and pinks fire only to cone 02) but are formulated specifically for use in oxidizing atmospheres. Therefore, in oxidation firings to cone 10, the colors are reliable and consistent. Stains will vary in color, however, depending upon the medium into which they are mixed and firing temperature. LEAD IS NOT USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF OUR PRODUCTS.

Basically
The more stain you add, the darker the color will be.

Stains in Clays and Slips
Best results can be expected when stains are added to a white clay body or slip base. Fire to normal maturation temperature. Percentages of stain added to clay or slip should be determined by testing.

Stains in Glazes
Stains can be used to color either transparent or opaque base glazes. Stains are generally added in amounts ranging from 1-10% of the glaze batch. The higher the percentage of stain, the deeper the fired color will be. The base glaze should contain a calcium carbonate content of 12-15% and have no zinc. Zinc can adversely affect colors, especially chrome-tin pinks, vanadium yellows, and cobalt blues. The percentage of stain plus opacifier should equal 15% of the total glaze batch.

Stains in Frit
Instead of using a glaze, you can add stains to water and FRIT. FRIT is a powdered combination of ingredients that basically makes up a very simple glaze. It allow a little "melt" to occur, which will bind the mason stains to the clay when fired.

Please make your own tests to determine the suitability of such products for their particular purposes. For safety and handling questions, please refer to Materials Safety Data Sheet.All colors are as accurately represented as the RGB display process will allow.